A briefe of the Bible drawne first into English poësy, and then illustrated by apte annotations: togither vvith some other necessary appendices. By Henoch Clapham.

(a) Moses before his death having imposed hands on Ioshuah as the Lord had comman∣ded, loe Ioshuah was full of the Spirit of Wisdome;

succeeding Moses in Captainship to Israel. And so beginneth the Book of Ioshuah.

Ioshuah sending Spies to Iericho (the first Citie beyond Iorden) they come to Harlotrie Hostesse Rahab, for lodging. She perceiving they were Israe∣lites (for Israel was become famous abroade) shee lodged them with holy Care, beleeving verelv that her Citie and all the Land should be giuen into the hand of Israel: and therfore beggeth & obtaineth graunt of Life for her selfe and her Fathers house.

Officers of Iericho (hauing observed Spies in the Towne) come and search for the Israelites, but Ra∣hab having hid them in the top of the house vnder bundles of Hemp, denieth her Ghuests. The Inqui∣sitors departed, she (dwelling vpon the Citie walls) letteth them downe through a window by a coard, and so they retyre to Ioshuah.

Ioshuah vnderstanding from IEHOVAH, that it was time to set over Iordan, hee appointeth the Priestes to bear the Arke of the Covenant (in which Arke the booke of Covenent was put) vntill they came to the brinke of the River. They comming thither, and setting foot in the water, The waters parted as did the Red Sea. The Priestes standing within Iorden, all the People passe over. Twelue Men in the meane time (of every Tribe one) take∣ing vp (at Ioshuahs commaund) a stone in Iorden, which afterwards in their Camping place, they pit∣ched downe for a Memoriall. The Priests no soo∣ner set foot on the Land, beyond Iordan, but loe, the waters rolle togither againe: for what rest is in this floodie world, longer than the Priest of Priests setteth foot on the Seas••

The Israelites Royall Arrivall once reported, Oh howe the Vncircumcised growe faint-hearted! Their Arrivall being in the first Moneth, they (as was commanded on the 14. daye of that Moneth,

(hauing first circumcised all the Males, borne for that 40. years in the Wildernes, in the place called Gilgal) they doe celebrate the Passeouer feast: and the next day after, do eat of the Corne of Canaan: wherevpon, the Manna (a kinde of foode, that for the 40. yeares fell with the morning dewe, like to Coriander seede) it ceased. Extraordinary provi∣sion shall accompanie the Woman in the Wilder∣nes: but she must not exspect so much in the Land of Rest. They incompasse Iericho six daies togither, seven Priests blowing on 7. Rammes-hornes, every day once: but the 7. daye, they circuit the Citie 7. times, the Priests sounding: and at the seaventh time sounding, the Armie shoutes, vpon which, the walles of Iericho fall downe flat. They sack the Ci∣tie (Sauing Rahabs house) Ioshuah giving in charge that no man take any execrable stuffe of Iericho. Achan filtcheth a Babylonish garment, 200. she∣kels of silver and a wedge of Golde, whereby hee brought Gods Iudgment on Israel. The execrable Theese found out, He, his sonnes, daughters, oxen, asses, yea All that he had, were stoned and burnt to Ashes in the Valley of Achor: and reason too, for Gold Silver, &c. first dedicate vnto false wor∣ship, is onely consecrated by beeing dedicated to Gods Tabernacle. The man that filtcheth that for his priuate vse, bringeth Iudgment vpon him. Let such as haue filtched false Church-liuings, marke this.

Some others (my Brethren) haue deemd it simp∣lie vnlawfull, that the ministry of the Newe Testa∣ment (yea: some, that none of the faithfull) should at any hand make vse of such stuffe: saying, It is exe∣crable. Indeed it is so, regarding his former vse, but if nowe it be by the holy Church dedicate to the Saintes vse, it is no more execrable, Iosh. 6. 24. and this way the Harlots wages is made holy, Isa. 23.

23. 24. Let my Brethren considder of this, and not so easilie condemne the true vse of God his Crea∣tures, because of former prophanation: for all the Creatures of God are consecrated vnto vs, by the Word and Praier. 1. Tim. 4. 4. 5. and heerein the Gospell is more liberall then was the Law.